Safety-match-box holder



Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN a. TAYLOR, 01? MEDIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SAFETY-MATCH-BOX HOLDER.

Application filed November 2, 1926. Serial No. 145,815.

My invention relates to a holder or casing for safety match boxes, itsobject being to provide a very simple and inexpensive de vice that mayeasily be attached to the usual match box, thereby providing a veryattractive and serviceable pocket accessory, whereby the box may bereadily opened. as for the removal of a match. ant which will beinstantly and automatically closed with its release. The scope of myinvention extends to whatever construction may be defined by or includedwithin the terms or language of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my invention as applied to a matchbox;

Figure 2 a central longitudinal section thereof;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 1 is a. view in perspective of the casing portion of myinvention, and

Figure 5 is a similar view of another form of my invention.

My invention, in the form or embodiment shown in the drawing and brieflydescribed. comprises a metallic casing, 10, of

substantially the same shape as the usual slidable type of safety matchbox, indicated generally as at 11, which, of course, is provided withthe outer box portion, 12, and the slidable container portion, 13. TheInc tallic casing, 10, is preferably formed of relatively thin sheetmetal and fitted over the exterior of the match box, 11, as is clearlyshown in Figures 2 and 3.

A space, 1 1, is formed between the oppositclv disposed edges in thebottom of the casing, 10, for the purpose of receiving the slides orarms, 15 and 16. Each of the slides or arms, 15 and 16. are providedwith slightly upturned portions, 17, for the purpose of engaging themovable portion, 13, of the safety match box.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, I utilize a v ieldable strip, 18, which maybe secured in any desired manner to the slides or arms, 15 and 16, so asto have a tendency to keep the match box 1n a normally closed position.To prevent the box portion, 13. from being accidentally displaced fromthe slides or arms, 15 and 16, a sharp upturned edge may be provided onthe uppermost end of the upturned portions, 17. WVhen the box portion,13, is pushed open, one of the slides will, of course, be pulled in thedirection of movement of this box portion, whereas the opposite slidewill remain stationary by reason of the fact that its upturned portion.17, will bear againstthe lower edge of the stationary box portion, 12.This is clearly shown in Figure 1.

Elongated openings or cut-out portions, 19, are provided in the sides ofthe casing, 10, for the purpose of exposing the roughened or treatededges of the safety match box.

In order to present a very striking appearance to my improved safetymatch box holder, I cover the thin metallic casing, 10, with a flexiblecovering, 20, such as leather or its substitutes. The covering, 20, islikewise provided with a pair of slots or cut-out portions. 21. whichare adapted to align or register with the slots, 19, in the casing, 10.A snap fastener, 22, may be employed to secure the flaps or free ends ofthe covering, 20, and to facilitate the ready removal or re placement ofthe covering, 20, when desired. For the purpose of preventing thecovering, 20, from sliding with respect to the casing. 10, I provide thecasing with a plurality of cut-out points, 23, and preferably locatethem near the corners of the casing, as is clearly illustrated in Figure4 of theaccompanying drawin In the form of my invention illustrated inFigure 5, a somewhat simplified structure is shown. In this instance,the relatively thin sheet metal cover, 10, will extend around but threesides of the match box instead of completely around it, as previouslydescribed. The sheet metal cover, 10', is provided on its lower sidewith an off-set groove or depression, 24, for receiving the slides orarms, 25 and 26. In this instance, the slides or arms, 25 and 26, areheld to gether by means of a relatively thin coil spring, 27. It isunderstood, of course, that the elastic rubber, 18, previouslydescribed, may be substituted for the spring, 27.

WVhat I claim is:

1. A holder for safety-match boxes, comprising an open ended casing inwhich the match box fits more or less snugly, members slidably mountedin one wall of the casing and terminally formed to overlie the edge ofthe match-box cover and project into the path of movement of the matchcontainer when such match box is in the casing, and spring means toexert return pressure on either member when operated,

2. A holder for safety-match boxes, comprising an open-ended casing tomore or less .nugly receive the match box and permit a; channel in onewall, two members arranged in alignment in such channel and normallyextending to the edges of the open ends of the casing, a spring meansconnect,- ing the proximate ends of the members to exert a pull oneither member when moved while the other is held, the free ends of themembers having upturned ends to overlie the cover of a contained matchbox and extend into the path of movement of the match container thereof,whereby in the movement of the container in either direction one of themembers is moved while the other member is held from following movementby the i match box cover.

JOHN Q. TAYLOR.

